The Lady Only Deals With the Real Ones - Chapter 57

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Normally, I wouldn’t have opened my mouth.

But maybe it was because of what happened today.

‘Perhaps the reason my heart kept feeling stuffy was… because I wanted to tell someone about Grandfather.’

Maybe it would be okay to say a little.

I put down my fork and slowly parted my lips.

“He’s a really scary person, my grandfather. Strict, with clear rules. I got scolded so badly I cried many times. His nickname when he was young was actually ‘Hound of Hell.'”

“I thought he must be an extraordinary person.”

“Really? Haha, you must have heard rumors. When I was little, I couldn’t even play with kids my age. They’d all get scared and run away just seeing Grandfather’s face, screaming ‘Aah! It’s the scary grandfather!’ Even though Grandfather didn’t do anything.”

Alter, who had been listening with a serious expression for some reason, paused when he saw me smile.

“But still. My grandfather is the best person in the world to me.”

Fiddling with my necklace, I thought of Grandfather who used to smile at me, not the one lying down now.

“He was strict, but all his words were for my sake. His rules were demanding, but they were all reasonable things. He scolded me until I cried, but in the end, he would hug me.”

Over the pawnshop filled with Grandfather’s traces, the days Grandfather must have spent overlapped.

“…Even though I had no friends, Grandfather stayed until the end and built me a really magnificent sand castle.”

“…”

“Now that I’m working, I think I understand Grandfather a bit more.”

“The reason he scolded you?”

“No.”

Grandfather, who spent half his day at the pawnshop, must have been tired and exhausted.

Even so, when he came home from work, he always spent time with me.

He played with me, read books to me, and waited until I fell asleep.

“That Grandfather really loved me.”

I was able to say those words more calmly than I expected.

Grandfather wouldn’t want to see his beloved granddaughter cry.

I felt like the knot in my heart had loosened just a little.

Though my nose tip had turned red, I lifted my head with a smile.

“You…”

But why did Alter have such a complicated expression?

His mysterious eyes that stared right through me were trembling slightly.

Anyway, since this was my first time telling someone about Grandfather, I felt a bit embarrassed.

I was focusing on eating my cake when Alter’s quiet voice sounded somewhat distant.

“…What about your parents?”

“Ah, they’re not here. Both of them passed away early.”

I answered lightly, but Alter dropped his fork with a clang.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to…”

“It’s okay. I don’t remember them well anyway.”

Alter, who had been wandering around not knowing what to do, ran his large hand over his face and spoke in a sunken voice.

“He saw me accurately.”

“What?”

“No. It’s just that I… am not used to this kind of conversation.”

“Me too. This is my first time telling someone about Grandfather, so I’m a bit embarrassed.”

I said it to ease the burden, but Alter paused again.

“…This is the first time you’ve told this story to me?”

“Yes. I don’t have friends.”

“Do people usually say such things so confidently?”

“What else can I do when I don’t have any? You must have many friends, I’m envious.”

Alter fell silent.

What, so he does have many friends?

I pouted my lips sourly and started eating the remaining cake.

‘But somehow my ears feel fuzzy. …It feels like everything’s spinning before my eyes too.’

Is it because I’m sleepy?

It feels like my face is getting hot too.

I was trying to finish the cherry cake with my hand on my warm cheek when my fork dropped.

“That’s strange…”

“What is.”

“The fork is right in front of me but I can’t grab it. What’s wrong?”

My hand that was grasping at air was suddenly pushed away.

When I looked to see what happened, Alter had pushed my hand away and was putting the cake back in the box.

Then he sighed deeply and said.

“Getting drunk from just the rum in a cake… what exactly is wrong with that body of yours?”

Huh?

Drunk?

***

“The cake is delicious, can’t I eat more?”

“Didn’t you hear me? You’re drunk right now.”

“Wouldn’t just one more slice be okay?”

Tesagh let out a hollow laugh watching Elisha seriously talking nonsense.

“Stop eating for today. I’ll buy you more next time.”

Tesagh, who was moving the cake box out of Elisha’s reach, stopped.

What was he doing promising a next time?

Today was just, he had waited to ask about her grandfather.

Her expression was terrible, so he couldn’t just ask directly, so he needed cake as an excuse to start a conversation.

“Really? Then should I buy some tea?”

But the moment he saw Elisha smiling brightly, he felt complicated.

No, his feelings had become complicated much earlier.

Was it when he heard the story about her grandfather?

Or was it when he saw that woman trudging along with drooping shoulders?

Or maybe…

“That knight business. It’s finished, right?”

When Tesagh was in Moro Duchy, Milton had reported.

Yesterday, the captain of the royal knights had stayed at the pawnshop for a long time. For several hours, no less.

“Ah, yes. Probably?”

“What do you mean probably? Are you saying he’ll come again?”

“It would be nice if he came again. I mean, it’s good for me when many customers come.”

Was she deflecting even while drunk, just like how she kept the princess’s secret, or was she just talking nonsense because she was drunk?

Tesagh sighed and sat across from Elisha again.

“You’d better be careful of that guy.”

He was someone who had the aura of Rugenote.

Setting that aside, considering the Empire’s current political situation, getting involved with people from the Imperial Palace would bring no good.

Especially for the owner of such a small shop.

“The captain of the royal knights ultimately follows orders from above. A genteel ruffian… Yes. Even if he seems genteel, it means you never know when he might turn into a ruffian if he receives orders. Even if making money is important, you should choose your customers carefully.”

“He seemed like a good person. Though his first impression wasn’t great.”

“Didn’t you say he was sparkling before, and now you’re saying his first impression wasn’t good?”

“Yes, like Alter.”

Tesagh’s mouth, which was about to retort, closed.

She called him Alter.

She always called him ‘customer,’ but this time she said Alter.

“Alter’s first impression wasn’t very good either… but it’s different now, isn’t it?”

That applied to the woman before his eyes as well.

He had thought she was a vile and sinister criminal, but it turned out she was just someone who worked hard.

‘No, is that really all there is to it.’

Tesagh’s stiffened eyes caught sight of Elisha tilting her head and smiling sweetly.

Tesagh stared blankly at that smile.

“…What about now.”

“Pardon?”

“You said my first impression wasn’t great. I asked what you think now.”

It must be her usual wordplay.

She was drunk, so she must be talking nonsense.

Even thinking that, Tesagh asked. He waited for an answer.

Elisha, who had been pondering deeply, smiled brightly.

“I guess you really can’t judge people by just looking at their surface?”

He felt deflated.

‘So it was nonsense after all.’

Even so, Tesagh found himself chuckling without realizing it.

“I know well enough how my appearance looks to others.”

He knew without having to be told.

Scary-looking, makes you want to apologize just by looking at his eyes, something like that.

But then.

“Oh, I was talking about your attitude.”

“Attitude?”

“Yes. You asked so intimidatingly back then. ‘You deal in stolen goods, don’t you?’ pressuring me like that. So I thought you were a really arrogant person. But after getting to know you, you’re not like that.”

Elisha giggled softly and tilted her head.

“But I’m, yawn… kind of curious about something… Why does everyone say you’re scary?”

“…What?”

Elisha buried her face in her arm and mumbled.

“You’re not really scary at all, to me…”

Then she soon began breathing peacefully.

Tesagh watched the sleeping Elisha for a long while before running his hand through his hair.

Really, this woman only says the most absurd things.

“Ha.”

However, Tesagh didn’t realize that the corners of his mouth were turned upward.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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